Scimitar-horned oryx
Sahara Conservation’s flagship species, the scimitar-horned oryx has been brought back from the brink of extinction thanks to concerted and relentless conservation efforts.
The scimitar-horned oryx, a large antelope weighing between 130-180 kg, is known for its long, backward-sweeping, curved horns. Its pelage is off-white with strongly contrasting reddish wash to the neck and upper chest and reddish facial markings through the eye and across the bridge of the nose.
Like other desert-dwelling ungulates, it meets its water needs through its diet, enabling it to endure extended periods without direct water intake, making it uniquely adapted to its arid desert environment. Typically found in herds ranging from 15 to 30 individuals, these numbers can swell during seasonal migrations. Females give birth to a single calf approximately every 8-9 months.
ID card
Scientific name:
Oryx dammah
IUCN Red list status :
Endangered
How many left in the wild:
About 700 individuals in 2024, after being extinct in the wild for three decades.
Geographic distribution:
Initially, across the entire Sahel from Mauritania to Sudan and the Nile Valley. Previous range north of the Sahara poorly known. Currently, the entire wild population is confined to the Ouadi Rimé – Ouadi Achim Faunal Reserve in central Chad.
The oryx inhabit the grasslands of the Sahel. It is not a true desert species but will visit suitable sub-desert habitats if pasture is available during the wet and cool seasons.
As grazers, they exhibit a preference for a diverse array of vegetation, particularly favoring leguminous herbs. Among their dietary preferences, wild melons of the genus Citrullus hold a special allure due to their high water content.
© Sahara Conservation
Threats and challenges
Resurgence of hunting and related warfare that brought about its extinction in the 1980s remains a potential threat.
Currently, habitat loss through competition with livestock and uncontrolled bushfires pose the greatest immediate threats.
There are also known risks from livestock and tick-borne infections and diseases.
Conservation success and growth of reintroduced populations will ultimately depend on finding win-win solutions with the increasing number of pastoralists and their livestock.
